Rhythm recorder



E. R. HEFFELFINGER 2,985,053

RHYTHM RECORDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l @m \H J ME mm x UNN 00 MM mm 0? ON g 0U w MN 0 1. .ll 1 l C a l a 0 G g 3 0 n WU a 5 on mm a Q Q vm a 9 a a FNI a mm Nm 0M D O 0 n 0 mm om 0 I/ I m. Q Q o om May 23, 1961 Filed Oct.6, 1955 INVENTOR. EUGENE R. HEFFELFINGER ATTORNEYS y 1961 E. R.HEFFELFINGER 2,985,053

RHYTHM RECORDER Filed Oct. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d/lfl/g 72 FIG. 4

50 FIG. 3

FIG. 5 28 INVENTOR. P f EUGENE R. HEFFELFINGER BY FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS Unite This invention relates to instruction aids and moreparticularly to a rhythm recorder for use by music teachers, students,and others.

As music teachers and trained musicians well know, it is extremelydifficult for a student to acquire the ability to read rhythmic patternsin a musical composition or exercise and almost simultaneously produceor interpret them in the music played. The ability to produce orinterpret the rhythmic patterns intended by the composer is onlyobtained after long and painstaking practice under the supervision of awell trained teacher. Frequently students miss or fail to fullycomprehend this very important phase of their musical education becausethere is no reliable way to achieve proper rhythmic patterns whilepracticing new material unless the student is under the constantscrutiny of the instructor. Further, because the sense of hearing ofmost students does not seem to be attuned to distinguishing rhythmicpatterns and students tend to be much less interested in developing thisfaculty, and because, without a visual record to follow, the progressmade is difiicult to evaluate and grading is impractical, many studentsnever learn to properly play the rhythm intended by the composer.

One of the principal objects of the instant invention is to transformthe rhythmic patterns produced by the student into a visual record whichcan be compared with other visual records produced by highly skilledperformers and instructors.

Broadly the invention comprises a writing instrument for transcribing arecord on paper or the like which is actuated by means capable of movingthe instrument in accordance with the intensity and duration of themovement or force producing a given note of music.

Another object of the invention is to provide means such as a bellows oranother pressure transmitting element connected between the instrumentand a pressure fluid source which expands and contracts the bellows orequivalent elements in accordance with the rhythmic patterns produced bythe student.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rhythm recordingdevice which can be used in multifarious ways to perfect the studentsstyle, his interpretive ability, his touch, and his pedal technique.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rhythm recorder whichpermits the student to perfect these techniques far more rapidly thanpreviously.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the typedescribed which graphically depicts rhythm patterns so that an analysisof the various rhythm components can be conducted and imperfections canbe detected and traced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rhythm recorder whichpermits the visual comparison of the rhythm patterns produced andproduces a permanent record permitting classification and grading.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which permits a number of students to be taughtrhythm in a class or seminar.

rates Patent Ofiice Patented May 23, 19651 A still further object of theinvention is to provide a recorder of simple and practical design whichcan be very economically manufactured and assembled.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat equivalent changes may be made in the various elements whichcomprise the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or thescope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective, elevational view of my rhythm recorder withportions of the various housing walls broken away to disclose theelements therein.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically depicting the circuits in therecorder.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a conventional mouthpiece fixed tothe end of the air tube in place of the compressible bulb shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 4 shows a further modification of the invention in which the bulbof Fig. l is intermittently released from a state of compresson by thefoot pedal of a piano to record a students pedal patterns.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the contact wheel for operating ametronome in timed relation with the travel of the recording strip.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which theactuating bellows is secured to the marker or pen.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein Ihave shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, a letter C generallyindicates a rectilinear casing or housing which. can be provided with ahinged side panel or wall 10 permitting access to the interior thereof.The shape and size of. the casing are unimportant to the invention,however for convenience sake the casing will be described as having,also, a floor 11, a top 12, an opposite side wall 13, and front and rearend walls 14 and 15.

Mounted on the rear wall 15 are brackets 16 which support a shaft 17 andrevolvable on shaft 17 is a roll or spool of paper tape or film-likestrip material 18 which is provided with longitudinally spaced apartedge perforations 19. Bearings 20 support a sprocket shaft 21 adjacentthe front end wall 14 below the roll 18 and sprockets 22 which engage inthe perforations 19 pull the paper tape from the roll at the rate ofspeed desired, as will be later explained. The leading end of the tape18 passes from the roll down under a revolvable idler roller 23, whichis supported on bearings 24, and thence leads past the motivatingsprockets or spur wheels 22 out a slot 25 in the front end wall 14 ofthe housing. Idler sprockets 22a or the like could, of course, beprovided under the strip 18 in front of sprockets 22 if necessary tohold the strip in engagement with sprockets 22.

Supported on the wall 13 is a pen guide 26 including a yoke end 26ahaving trunnions 27 for pivotally sup porting a pen 28. The pen 28 couldbe of conventional ball point design or may be a fountain type which iscontinuously fed ink through a tube 29 leading from an inverted bottle30 supported above the pen by a bracket 31. The point of the pen is, ofcourse, in engagement with the recording strip 18 which may beconveniently subdivided by metronone lines 32. In order to move the pen28 about its pivots 27 to transcribe rhythm on the strip 18 as at 33 oneend of an expansible hollow rubber bellows 34 is secured to the .pen 28.A clip 23a having an arm with an opening 28b therethrough is mounted onthe pen as shown and the end node 34a 7 of the bellows which is ofgreater diameter than the.

opening 28b is forced therethrough so that its end wall engages the pen.A flexible tube leads from the interior of the bellows 34- opposite thepen and as shown the tube extends through openings 36 in a bracket 37supported on floor 11 and leads to a keyboard housing 38. Providedwithin the housing 3 8 on the outer end of tube 35 is a rubber bulb 39or the like which is positioned under the depressible key K.Alternatively a mouth piece 40 (see Fig. 3) could be provided on theouter end of tube 35 so that a wind instrument musician blowingthereinto in the simulated playing of a particular piece of music couldrecord the rhythmic pattern produced. While the wind musician couldlearn to play in rhythm by striking the key K there are advantages inrecording the actual blowing since style is to be considered.

A motor 4-1 is provided to drive the sprocket shaft 21 through themedium of a belt 42 which is trained around a pulley '43 on the armatureshaft 44 of the motor and a pulley 45 on the shaft 21.

As the sprockets 22 revolve a metronome M is intermittently energized ina manner which will now be described so that it clicks at the precisemoment the pen 2% crosses each line 32. Mounted on shaft 22 is a contactwheel which is provided with a continuous annular contact 47 on one sidethereof (see Fig. 5) and a series of circumferentially spaced contacts48 on the other side thereof (see Fig. l). The wheel 46 is, of course,formed of an insulative material so that the contacts 4-7 and 4:55 areelectrically separated. Spaced arms on a block 49 have contact platesSll and 51 thereon as shown, the contact plate 5% being continuously inengagement with the contact 47 while the contact plate 51 is onlyintermittently in engagement with the contacts 48 as the wheel 45revolves.

The circuit wires 52 (see Fig. 2) which lead from the contact plates and51 and are shown connected in parallel with the motor circuit wires 53are adapted to energize an electromagnet or solenoid 54 which attractsan armature plate 55. The plate 55 is pivotally mounted on shafts ortrunnions 56 provided on the angular metronome bracket 57 and, whenpulled toward the solenoid 54, strikes the core 58 so that an audibleclick is heard.

Provided in the motor circuit 53 is a plug 59 which may be connectionalto a power source, an oif-on line switch 60, and a rheostat 61. Byadjusting an indicator pointer 62 on the rheostat actuating shaft -63 inaccordance with a scale 64 on the casing more or less resistance isthrown into the motor circuit 53 and the speed of moto-r all andaccordingly the rate of feed of tape 18 can be varied.

When desirable a strip may be torn from the roll 18, the serrated edge65 being provided on the upper edge of slot or opening 25 for thispurpose. In many cases however it will be possible to use a roll 18 fora second and third time by simply changing the color of ink use Suitablemanual or mechanical rewind mechanism can be provided to facilitatereuse or partial reuse of the roll and means could also be provided formoving the tape 18 transversely so that the pen 28 would engage it at adifferent point.

A pen guide 66 fixed to the wall 13 has a slot 67 therein to pass thepoint of the pen and positively prevent any lateral movement thereof andobviously the point of the pen must extend below the guide a slightdistance. The guide 66 assures that movement of the pen will be in avertical plane only.

In operation the pointer 62 is adjusted to feed the paper 18 at a speedwhereby it conforms to the standard metronome lines on the strip. Asnoted the speed of the paper is adjusted so that the pen 28 crosses aline 32 every time the hinge plate 55 is brought into audible engagementwith the core 58 a given number of times per minute. When the key K isdepressed the bulb 39 is, of course, compressed and the air thereinpasses into tube 35 and l expands the flexible rubber bellows 34lengthwise or axially to push the point of the pen 28 outwardly. If thekey is struck a fairly hard blow with considerable accent, the airimpulse is transmitted to the bellows accordingly and the pen is movedrapidly forwardly a considerable distance from its normal position as ata, while if the key is struck with little accent or intensity the penwill be moved a relatively slight distance as at [1. The resilientbellows 34 returns the pen to original position as soon as the air isrestored to bulb 39 and, of course, the duration of the note isgraphically represented by the delay in the return (at c). If the noteis not struck sharply enough or is not struck at the proper timeobviously the graph will portray these faults. The bellows 34 isemployed because it is extremely sensitive to air impulses or pressurevariations and is actuated by relatively slight impulses as well asheavier impulses. Preferably the fluid within the bellows is at apressure a few pounds per square inch less than atmospheric pressurewhich makes the bellows more sensitive and tends to permit it to actmore rapidly.

The apparatus may be used in a number of ways. If a lesson book has beenprepared with the notes in a rhythm pattern and a correct graphicrepresentation such as produced by the device underneath or above them,the student can read the rhythm pattern according to the notearrangement and then, using a conventional counting system, proceed toplay the rhythm on the key 39. If the graphic pattern produced by thestudent is compared with the correct graphic pattern in the lesson bookany dissimilarities can be noted and the student can practice in thismanner until he or she is able to produce a graphic pattern identicalwith that in the lesson book.

More advanced students who are being taught to capture the style andmaturity of the music they play may not be directed to exactly copy thegraphic patterns of master performers but may be directed to incorporatevarious tempo changes into their playing in accordance with theirinterpretation of the rhythm of the composition. If the teacher willtranscribe her own variations or rubato on an unlined strip 13 and thestudent does likewise the graphic representations may be compared.

Further the graph will as noted, indicate when the various degrees ofintensity have been felt by the performer and will report the durationof the individual tones so that rhythm imperfections can be traced andthe faults corrected. Good rhythmic playing, of course, depends onstubtle intensity changes and style, which is dependent upon theduration of individual tones. The placement of accents and the intensitydesired varies with the type of music being played and some songsrequire smooth connected tones of relatively long duration While othermusic such as marches, for example, need sharp detached notes in variouspassages (staccato) and sustained notes in others. Obviously with theinstant apparatus difliculties encountered when accents are misplaced ornot apparent enough, or when the tones are not of the proper duration,may be readily detected and corrected. The device is particularlyhelpful in the development of style for which there are no set formulasor well defined standards, since good and bad performances can becompared. Further the apparatus will aid the piano student in developinghis or her touch since the graph will show split second variations inthe release of the key K.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a slightly modified embodiment of the inventionin which a lever arm 69 which is pivotally supported at 70 on a platform71 is positioned under the outer end of a standard piano foot pedal P.The bulb 39 instead of being disposed in a keyboard housing is arrangedunder the outer end of lever arm 69 and is normally compressed, thespring 72 holding the said end of lever 69 down whenthere is no pressureon the pedal P. In this case the impulse is recorded just before eachbeat when the foot pressure is released Whereas in the previouslydescribed transcriptions the impulses were recorded simultaneously withthe beat or shortly thereafter. Thus the device obviously can be used instill another manner to develop the students pedal technique. Of course,the strip 18 is disengaged from the sprockets 22 the device may be usedas a conventional metronome.

It should be apparent that I have perfected a very practical rhythmrecorder which will be widely adopted by music teachers, students, andaccomplished musicians as well.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are inall cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles ofthe invention rather than as limiting the same in any way since it iscontemplated that various changes may be made inthe various elements toachieve like results without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

For example the strip could remain at rest in another embodiment of theinvention while the motor was employed to move the pen in timed relationthereto to trace a rhythm pattern thereon.

Where the term simulated musical rhythm reception member is used in theclaims the meaning is that the member is the same as the reception partof an instrument such as the key of a piano keyboard but it is notintended to imply that the key or the like produces any musical sound.

I claim:

1. In a simulated musical rhythm transcriber; a relatively movabletranscriber strip and transcribing element for marking the samepositioned in engagement therewith; means connected to and moving one ofthe strip and transcribing element in a generally planar path of travelrelative to the other; means supporting one of the strip andtranscribing element for movement in a plane transverse to the saidplanar path of travel of the other; a simulated musical rhythm receptionmember; a fluid pressure system connected responsively to said member tovary the pressure of the fluid therein and create a series of fluidpressure impulses of varying duration, frequency, and intensity; andfluid pressure translating means connected between said fluid pressuresystem and said one of the strip and element supported for movement andtranslating the pressure of said system into mechanical movement of saidone of said strip and element to transcribe rhythm on the stripgraphically.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said musical rhythmreception member comprises a depressible simulated piano key and acompressible fluid filled bulb thereunder connected in said fluidpressure system and compressed on depression of said key to create saidimpulses.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said musical rhythmreception member comprises a lever pivotally mounted intermediate itsends and having one end disposed under the foot pedal of a piano so asto be actuated by the same, a compressible fluid filled bulb connectedin said fluid pressure system is provided under the opposite end of saidlever, and a spring normally holds said opposite end of the lever downand said bulb accordingly compressed until said pedal is depressed andthe lever is pivoted to raise its said opposite end.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said fluid pressuretranslating means comprises an expansible, resilient bellows whichautomatically returns to original position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said strip has edgeperforations therein, motor means, a

sprocket shaft connected to said motor means, sprockets thereon engagedin the perforations for driving the strip, a metronome, a metronomecircuit, contact means in said circuit on said shaft, and contact meansintermittently engaging the contact means on said shaft forintermittently operating the metronome in timed relation with the feedof the strip.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 in which a housing is provided andsaid marker comprises a pen pivotal at its upper end to swing in atransverse plane, and guide means extending from said housing topositively limit the swing to a vertical plane only.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said strip haslongitudinally spaced metronome marks; intermittent sound creatingmeans; and means actuated by the travel of said strip for energizingsaid sound creating means intermittently when said marker crosses one ofsaid metronome marks.

8. In a rhythm recorder, a longitudinally disposed recorder housingincluding, opposite end walls, a strip roll having edge perforationsrevolvably supported on one end wall thereof, the opposite end wallhaving a slot therein below said roll passing the leading end of saidstrip, an idler roller below said strip roll and under which the leadingend of said strip passes, a sprocket shaft spanning the leading end ofsaid strip near the slot in said wall, sprockets thereon engaged in theperforations in the strip to move the strip longitudinally, a motordriving said sprocket shaft at a controlled rate of speed, a penpivotally supported above said strip between the sprockets and roll withits point in engagement with the strip, guide means positivelypreventing the pen point from moving except in a vertical planetransverse to the direction of travel of said strip, a key housinghaving a depressible key mounted therein, a compressible rubber bulbunder said key, an expansible, collapsible hollow rubber bellowsconnected to said pen parallel to the said guide means, a bracket insaid housing having a wall perpendicular to the axis of the bellows andagainst which the one end of said bellows braces, said wall of thebracket having an opening in axial alignment with the bellows, aflexible rubber tube passing through said opening into said bellows atone end and connected to said bulb at its opposite end, a motor circuitincluding a connection to a power source, a metronome in said recorderhousing, a metronome circuit in parallel with said motor circuit, awheel on said sprocket shaft having a continuous annular contact on oneside electrically separated from a series of circumferentially spacedcontacts on the other side, and a pair of contacts in said metronomecircuit, one in engagement with said continuous contact and the other inintermittent engagement with said spaced contacts as the wheel revolves.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said motor circuit has arheostat therein, a speed scale on said housing, and an indicatorpointer for said rheostat indicating the speed of travel of the stripaccording to said scale.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS202,433 Gobel Apr. 16, 1878 630,272 Swenson Aug. 1, 1899 992,010Lanphier May 9, 1911 1,074,556 Meahl Sept. 30, 1913 2,006,882 Clevelandet a1 July 2, 1935 2,139,384 Schamehorn Dec. 6, 1938 2,234,948 Allen eta1. Mar. 18, 1941 2,702,369 Dreyfus Feb. 15, 1955 2,709,430 Trangott May31, 1955

